Defending friends at heavy political cost

It is perfectly normal for ordinary people to defend their friends irrespective of whether they are right or wrongs. But can the leaders of a country afford to do so? This is the question that often comes to one’s mind whenever top ministers of the government show that they are ready to defend the beleaguered Central Bank governor Arjuna Mahendran at whatever the political cost.

Mahendran has been accused of profiting out of a government bond transaction in collusion with his son in law who happened to be the CEO of a primary dealer firm that took part in the infamous bond transaction. The opposition political parties, civil society groups, trade chambers and good governance activists have in one voice demanded his removal. Nevertheless, those in the government particularly in the UNP have taken the stance that none of the allegations have been proved and that there is no reason to remove him from his post.

However, the fact remains that there is a lot of public suspicion and antipathy over this matter and what is rightfully expected of a government supposedly dedicated to good governance is to inquire into such allegations and not to defend the very person who should be the subject of an investigation.

In February 2015, the Central Bank announced the issue of thirty-year sovereign bonds, with the aim of raising Rs. 1 billion. Despite the initial indication of Rs.1 billion, the Central Bank went on to accept bids up to 10 billion rupees, and the primary dealers were not informed of the bank’s decision to raise more funds.

Allegations were later raised that Perpetual Treasuries Limited, a company which is said to be owned by Arjun Aloysius, the son-in-law of the Central Bank Governor was privy to this information. It became clear that there had been a miscommunication in failing to inform the primary dealers of the increased requirement for funds.

While the Prime Minister appointed a committee to inquire into the matter and commissioned a report, the COPE committee’s investigation into the matter came to a standstill following the dissolution of parliament. Overall, the general perception is that there has not been any genuine effort to investigate into the matter and it has been swept under the carpet.

Despite call for his removal, Mahendran with the support of those in power has succeeded to remain in his post almost till the end of his term which is only a few weeks away. Now several powerful ministers representing the government have indicated that he will be reappointed while some ministers who are members of the SLFP have opposed such a move.

Whether allegations against him can be proved or not is yet another matter but what is evident is that he has failed to remain above board as expected of him when he has been appointed following a political change brought about by popular demand and for good governance.

Any attempt by those in power to totally disregard public antipathy on this matter will only bring the already unpopular government into disrepute while it will further lose the confidence of the honest public and the intellectuals.

 

 

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Luxury cars and need for frugality to begin at the top

By Gamini Abeywardane

Supplementary estimates presented in parliament to buy expensive duty free vehicles for ministers and state ministers amidst hardships caused to people by floods and the explosion in the Army’s central armoury sparked a lot of public antipathy and generated much public discussion on the subject. Despite public criticism most parliamentarians, irrespective of their political philosophies seem to be united when it comes to their own salaries and perks.

There seem to be a point in what critics are saying. Simply, should we spend so much for the comfort of our elected representatives who have come to serve us, when people themselves are going through untold hardships? On the other hand, the argument by the parliamentarians who justify their claim for better vehicles is that given the amount of travelling and the terrains they have to pass through such vehicles are not luxuries but essential facilities for performance of their duties.

However, the question that baffles most right thinking people is whether such expensive brands of vehicles with option to change for new ones within relatively a short period are absolutely necessary when country and people are going through hard times and when its economy is not doing well. Aren’t these well maintained high quality vehicles suitable to be used for longer periods?

The matter becomes even worse when such high spending on luxury vehicles for parliamentarians is proposed soon after jacking up the tax on motor vehicle imports making it more difficult for ordinary people to purchase cars.

What is happening in our country is quite different when compared to the situation in India where politicians including the country’s President and Prime Minister are seen using homemade Indian cars. Perhaps India being a larger country their parliamentarians need to travel longer distances in order to serve their constituents. Despite all that we have seen Indian leaders using Ambassador cars made in their own country. Isn’t this quite in contrast to the extravagant lifestyles of our parliamentarians?

We really do not know whether the public criticism of the expenditure of parliamentarians will make any real impact on what is going on. However, the public attention received through the media should encourage the politicians to rethink on the need to cut down whatever the expenses that can be cut down. Unless it is done, we can never cut down the public sector expenditure or influence the public servants to spend less. The example should be set by the politicians and the leaders at the upper level.

 

 

 

 

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Recognizing elephant paths and their rights

 

By Gamini Abeywardane

The government last Tuesday has taken a vital decision towards resolving the long standing issue of human elephant conflict. The cabinet has decided to leave the traditional elephant paths for the elephants and remove the unauthorized settlers from such paths giving them alternate land.

This is the first time we have decided to change the changeable without sticking to the futile attempt of trying to change the behaviour of the animals still in the wild. What happened earlier was to take the side of the people who have encroached on the territory of the wild animals and use electric fences and various artificial ways of controlling elephants which often did not work.

Keeping the electric fences live all 365 days of the year was not a practically possible thing and with the slightest opportunity the pachyderms used to break into the villages and destroyed life and property. This has been happening repeatedly for quite a long time, the problem got highlighted in the media when some destruction occurred and often authorities got the blame for not preventing the calamity.

Elephant paths are determined by factors such as availability of water and fodder depending on rain and drought and they are not easily changeable as the elephants are used to travelling along these paths for hundreds of years.

Therefore it is very logical to recognize this reality and change the unplanned human settlements on the borders of forest reserves. This could be a fresh opportunity to look at the problem rationally and provide these settlers with suitable land with better facilities under proper guidance of the government.

Going hand in hand with this development is the decision taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to stop all illegal land filling in the Western Province irrespective of whether such filling has already begun or been partially done with the blessing of the local politicians.

The same way the human settlements interfered with the traditional path of the elephants, the unauthorized land fillings have often blocked the natural course of the water flow. While the former often infuriate the elephants, the latter result in floods. Interference with the nature, in whatever way has always proved to be destructive causing loss of human life at the end.

Both these decisions by the government are quite timely and appropriate. However their implementation could be quite cumbersome because nothing could be achieved without the co-operation of the local politicians who have often been at the bottom of these issues.  So, there is a need for specific measures to oversee and monitor the implementation of these new decisions taken by the government.

 

 

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